I absolutely LOVE what Philadelphia has done with their riverfront! A certain Western Pennsylvania city should take notes on how they too could transform their riverfront into a prime destination, and not just one centered on expensive "trendy" restaurants (perhaps DC should take take notes as well).
I love the setup here! Lots of hammocks set up all over for relaxation, lots of water features for the kids, and loungers and deck chairs available as well. My husband and I easily found a spot to sit in on a couch located on a deck. They had a cute craft market set up along one pathway during this visit. They also have giant games (connect 4 and jenga) in addition to giant blocks for building. There were two arcades nearby with all the typical arcade games. I also really liked the repurposed shipping containers that now house different food vendors. HipCityVeg (DCites will recognize that one) was there as was Franklin Fountains and Chickie & Petes. There were a few other vendors too that had vegetarian or vegan focuses. For $8 my husband and I bought a gigantic bag of Chickie & Pete's kettle corn seasoned with their crab seasoning for a bit of spicy and sweet. Best kettle corn ever! It kept for a few days after we bought it too. If you walked down a pier deck, there was a stand for alcoholic beverages which could be enjoyed down at the waterfront or closer to where we were in the loungers.
They rent SUP, paddle boats, and kayaks as well. There was a ship that was part of the Seaport Museum that could be toured too. I can't say enough how I applaud Philly for it's riverfront and I can only hope my hometown of Pittsburgh can recreate something similar in the future! read more